Here’s a lively show that recognises how, in many households, kids know more about technology than grownups. Within minutes, the young crowd are screaming instructions at the trio of adult performers: put that plug in there, wind that handle, don’t forget to be careful!
Presented by Tutti Frutti and One Tenth Human, Sarah Punshon’s original Christmas story for over-fours is about the importance of both making and saving electricity. Hunting for festive decorations in their grandad’s workshop, three siblings stumble across an old train set and assorted lamps and gadgets which they operate with the assistance of some eager helpers from the audience.
Adrien Spencer, Ciarán Walker and Safia Bartley kick things off by supplying some dance moves for a feelgood opening song to “get your brains fizzing”. Their energy is maintained for the full hour, even if the plot’s emotional range is rather limited and the story could be better blended with the series of simple science experiments.
With their mum away at the hospital visiting their grandfather, the children encounter the Lightbulb Princess, a tree-topper fairy named Filomina (Bartley in flamboyant form). She proves more demanding than the princess with the pea and needs a lesson in how the spirit of the season is about more than just getting heaps of pressies.
Punshon’s production has a DIY cheer and should encourage children to try out some of the scenes for themselves at home – whether it be bending your body to match the shapes made with an anglepoise lamp or recreating the steps of the electropop bangers composed by Ziad Jabero. The show’s ballads are less memorable and the story is a tad baggy, led by the distractions of the siblings, but there’s a welcome make-do-and-mend lesson, as well as repeated reminders of the environmental impact (if not, surprisingly, the cost) of electricity.
The cast share a strong rapport and are adept at encouraging participation, notably in a section about our expectations of any celebratory occasion. While Amanda Mascarenhas’s bulb-filled set and Sara Burns’ lighting are equally appealing, the real glow here is shared between actors and audience.
• At Half Moon theatre, London, until 25 November. Then touring until 17 December
